Trivia / Ang Probinsyano (2015)

• Adored by the Network:
  • The show could be considered as ABS-CBN's cash cow from the late 2010s to early 2020s, having aired for 7 years from September 28. 2015 to August 12, 2022 with 1,696 episodes.
  • Given that Ang Probinsyano began airing on September 28, 2015, this is one of the network's cash cow of the 2010s decade along with May Bukas Pa.
• Blooper:
  • During the scene where Don Ignacio is burning alive while hanging on a tree, we see his hands moving briefly even though they are supposed to be tied behind his back in the previous scene.
  • The closing credits after the epilogue had a blooper reel taken throughout the show's run.
• Career Resurrection: Many washed-up and/or forgotten actors get a second wind by playing supporting roles in the series, notably Baron Geisler^note Who previously gained notoriety for his drug-and-alcohol-fuelled antics and sexual harassment cases against women on and off-set and comedienne Whitney Tyson to name a few. This even becomes an Invoked Trope; all they had to do was ask the production staff and especially star Coco Martin to get them a job.
• California Doubling: Although many scenes taking place in the "North" (heavily implied to be the Ilocos Region) were filmed in both the Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur provinces, some scenes count as this trope. For example the scenes where Cardo and the Task Force Agila were spotted by the police and encounter Armando's group were actually filmed in Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar, which is located in Bataan, a part of Region III, Central Luzon.
• Channel Hop: After the ABS-CBN network shut down, it now airs on the Kapamilya Channel, while steaming on iWantTFC, TFC IPTV and Kapamilya Online Live.
• The Character Died with Him: Lola Flora. When her actress Susan Roces died in May 20, 2022, she also died in the series, from natural causes.
• Directed by Cast Member: Besides playing the lead role, Coco Martin also served as one of the show's directors alongside fellow cast member Michael de Mesa.
• "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: Randy Santiago, who sings one of the series' themes, gets a minor role as one of a drug kingpin's flunkies.
• Fake Nationality:
  • Philip Tang is stated to be Chinese in one episode. His actor, Richard Yap, is a Filipino. However, he does have Chinese ancestry.
  • The Filipino actor Mon Confiado portrays the (possibly) Hong Konger Mr. Lao in the show.
• In Memoriam:
  • For Eddie Garcia, who died on June 20, 2019, where his clips as Don Emilio/Señor Gustavo shown, with the caption "Thanks, Ka Probinsyano."
  • Ditto with Susan Roces who died on May 20, 2022. The cast wasted no time paying their respects to the late veteran actress, most especially Coco Martin.
• Long Runner:
  • The show is the longest-running drama series on Philippine television since June 26, 2020, having 1,696 episodes and aired for 7 years. The series spanned for three Philippine presidents during its 7-year run which are presidents Benigno Aquino III (September 28, 2015–June 30, 2016), Rodrigo Duterte (June 30, 2016–June 30, 2022), and Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (June 30–August 12, 2022).
  • Coincidentally, the 1,696 episode number count of 7-year run Ang Probinsyano is almost near to the number of episodes of one of the previous afternoon show of ABS-CBN which is the 5-year run Wowowee (February 5, 2005–July 30, 2010) where it has 1,698 episodes. The finale of Wowowee (July 30, 2010) aired 5 years and 2 months before the premiere of Ang Probinsyano on September 28, 2015.
• The Merch: In line with the show's immense popularity, various toys and games were made to tie in with the series. There's even a Mobile Phone Game based on the show.
• Playing Against Type: Judy Ann Santos, considered the "queen" of Filipino soap operas, makes a return to ABS-CBN, as an Ax-Crazy Serial Killer.
• Real-Life Relative: Many examples, since Filipino cinema is littered with entangling families of thespians. Notably:
  • Lola Flora de Leon is played by Fernando Poe Jr.'s very own widow, Susan Roces.
  • Father and son Ronaldo Valdez and Janno Gibbs both get roles on the show, although at different parts.
  • Another father-son duo, Lito and Mark Lapid, as the Pulang Araws' second-in-command and his right-hand man Romulo Dumaguit and Anton del Mundo. Amusingly, there's a subplot during the Pulang Araw arc where Anton has a crush on Romulo's daughter...
  • Brothers Rowell and Raymart Santiago as President Hidalgo and Police Major Basco.
• Production Posse: Notably, the respective 2017 and 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival entries Ang Panday and 3pol Trobol: Huli ka Balbon! featured some series regulars as part of their casts. The Ang Panday is notable in that both Pulang Araw/Vendetta and especially the CIDG Boys have the exact same role.
• Troubled Production: Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic and the resulting quarantine which encompasses the entirety of Luzon as well as large parts of the Philippines, production of further episodes was halted for a time since March 2020. The cast and crew would also have to abide by health and safety protocols and had to put production under a "locked-in" scheme where filming is confined to a designated area to mitigate any risk of infections.
• Uncredited Role: Actor comedian Randy Santiago provided the vocals for the show's theme song, "Nandiyan na si Cardo". Despite of this, he is not credited for this role on the accompanying video which is broadcast on television. The people responsible for the opening sequence including Santiago were credited by Dreamscape in an Instagram post.
• What Could Have Been: Believe it or not, there were plans to include Hollywood actors in the show. Negotiations were made, and even Antonio Banderas, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Chuck Norris were confirmed to make an appearance in the show at one point, in undisclosed roles. However, these plans, along with their appearances, were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• You Look Familiar: Happened many times throughout the show's history:
  • Zeppi Borromeo portrayed SPO2 de Vera, one of Cardo's comrades in the SAF and Derick, a firearms expert and one of Lito's associates.
  • Stuntman Val Iglesias portrayed one of the holduppers on a bus that Cardo guns down and Turo, one of Lito's henchmen.
  • Franco Daza portrayed Kirk, a member of Jonas' party drugs syndicate and Santiago, a hacker and one of Lito's associates.
  • Both JC Santos and Simon Ibarra, who all portrayed younger versions of Don Emilio Syquia, would later get roles on the show as Marco Cabrera, the son of both Lucas and Catherine Cabrera and Enrique Vera, Lara's father.

---